Half-term is the time when families start hunting for something to fill the school holidays, and this year Aberdeen has a festive option that doubles as a treat for all ages. The Snow Queen, a family pantomime from TaleGate Theatre Productions, runs at the Aberdeen Arts Centre from Saturday 28 November to Sunday 27 December, so it sits neatly across the half-term break and carries on well into December. It is the seventh year in a row TaleGate has brought the show to the city, which gives you some idea of how much of a fixture it has become.
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The story is a playful twist on the familiar tale: Jack Frost convinces the Snow Queen to rule over Aberdonia, locking the land in a winter that refuses to end, until her sister, the Summer Fairy, steps in to break the ice. It is the kind of plot that works for everyone from small children to grandparents, and the production leans into the spectacle, with dazzling costumes and scenery that do the heavy lifting on stage. The cast is a mix of professional and local talent, with Doric Dame Philip Napier playing Dame Rita Rizza, Megan Wright as the Snow Queen, Hannah Buyers as the Summer Fairy, Xander Gordon as Jack Frost, and Sarah Ord as Rudy Reindeer. They are joined by ensemble members Emma Lewis and Jessica Bruce from the Aberdeen College of Performing Arts, plus dancers from the Aberdeen-based company Danz Creations, which keeps the production firmly rooted in the local scene. James Worthington directs the whole thing.
On the practical side, there is plenty of choice. Performances run on Friday evenings at 6pm and at weekends at 1pm and 6pm, so you can pick a slot that fits around school runs or a quieter weekend afternoon. There is also a BSL/Relaxed performance on Thursday 3 December at 6pm, with lowered sound levels, no strobes, dimmed lighting and a designated quiet space, which is worth knowing if you are bringing anyone who finds a standard show a bit overwhelming. Tickets are £26.95 standard, £24.79 concession and £21.02 for children under 16, with group bookings of ten or more coming in at £17.25 a head and a four-person group ticket at £90.55, all prices including the booking fee. You can book them through the Arts Centre's usual channels.
The venue itself is worth a mention. The Aberdeen Arts Centre at 33 King Street is an independent arts venue run by the registered charity Castlegate Arts Ltd, with a 350-seat auditorium, a café-bar and flexible spaces that make it more than just a place to see a show. It also houses the Children's Theatre, which Catherine Hollingworth opened in the 1950s as the UK's first youth theatre of its kind, and the centre launched its 'Save Aberdeen Arts Centre' campaign in May 2025, a three-year drive to raise £660,000. Between the professional cast, the local dancers and the relaxed performance, it is a well-rounded family outing that fits the half-term bill without asking too much of your wallet or your schedule.
Published Date
26 October 2026
